In special recognition of United Way of Lake County’s 211, the Lake County Board, as well as the City of Waukegan, Village of Gurnee, and City of Zion, have all proclaimed February 11 as “211 Day”! We are grateful to our local government partners for their generous support of our 211 service, as well as the many other partners and individuals who have contributed to help make 211 a reality for our community.
211 has already made a tremendous impact, making nearly 200,000 connections to essential health and human services. 211 Day is a wonderful opportunity to continue to raise awareness of this vital service to improve and save lives here in Lake County.
We invite you to help us spread the word about 211. Check out our social media channels for posts to share and visit 211LakeCounty.org for more information and materials.
Help Create and Revitalize Our Early Learning Trails
As we look ahead to spring and warmer days, we are looking for volunteers to create and revitalize our Early Learning Trails (ELTs) across Lake County. ELTs are publicly accessible outdoor learning games designed to develop children’s academic readiness and encourage active movement and play. The brightly painted trails marked by numbers, letters and shapes help children develop social, cognitive, and kinesthetic skills in a fun and safe space.
Thanks to the generosity of our corporate and community sponsors, children in Lake County have access to dozens of these trails. If you’re interested in creating or revitalizing an ELT with your organization, please contact Bobbi.Selvik@uwlakeco.org.
Because Kids Don’t Come With Instructions
Bright by Text is a great free resource for anyone looking to receive activities, child development information and other tools to assist in their parenting journey. This national texting program’s messages include topics like brain development, health and wellness, STEM, safety and more. The content comes from trusted partners like PBS and Sesame Street and is available in English and Spanish.
It’s easy to sign up. Simply text “UWLC” to 274-448. We only ask for your child’s birth date and zip code. That way, you’ll get messages timed to their exact age and information about local events and resources, including information about our very own early education programs. We will never share your information.
Young Professionals Who Make a Difference
Want to create positive change in your community while connecting and having fun with other young professionals? Leaders United of Lake County is a group within United Way that provides opportunities such as mentoring local middle school students, volunteer projects, building leadership experience, networking with community leaders, and more.
In celebration of Better Together being back in session for spring, we would like to share a story about a boy who attended our program named David.
When David was just one year old, David’s mom, Lia, knew how important it was to spend time educating David, so she signed up for United Way of Lake County’s Better Together program. Better Together is for North Chicago families with children birth to three years old. Through Better Together, parents can learn how to become their child’s first teacher and the program provides a safe place where children can develop the readiness, physical and cognitive skills crucial to their education.
David engaged in the weekly program, learning, playing, and exploring. It fostered David’s love of learning and helped to prepare David for success in school. Lia shared that “Better Together helped shape David’s development and prepared him for school in so many ways. David is so smart and detail oriented. He already knows his multiplication!”
When we give children a solid educational foundation, they are better prepared to succeed in school and life. David is well on his way—on his path to success.
Welcome, Angela Ramirez!
Angela Ramirez recently joined our United Way family as Community Engagement Coordinator. Angela comes to us with over three decades of experience in Family and Community Engagement and Bilingual Education within a local school district. In her new role, Angela will assist with our community and volunteer projects.
Get to know Angela—her favorite part of her job, what she does in her free time, and more—by clicking below.
